Reusable delivery container

ABSTRACT

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for reusable containers and item delivery using reusable containers. In several embodiments, the reusable containers described herein include removable divider walls that can be used to selectively divide an interior of the container into multiple smaller portions. By a further approach, the container and divider walls can have cooperating components to mount the divider wall to the container. In some embodiments, the reusable containers described herein can also include bag handle holding features so that bags placed therein are prevented from spilling contents during transport.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/647,462, filed Jul. 12, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/361,187, filed Jul. 12, 2016, all ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to containers and, more particularly,to reusable containers.

BACKGROUND

Delivering items to a location of a customer can utilize a variety ofcontainers. By some approaches, individual items can be packaged insingle-use containers, such as cardboard boxes or the like. Single-usecontainers, however, can be wasteful. Additionally, delivery containerscan be subjected to rough handling and various conveyor systems duringuse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses and methodspertaining to a reusable container that can be used for the delivery ofitems. This description includes drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a reusable container in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the reusable container of FIG. 1in accordance with several embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the reusable container of FIG. 1in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the reusable container of FIG. 1 inaccordance with several embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the reusable container of FIG. 1 inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the reusable container of FIG. 1 inaccordance with several embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the reusable containerof FIG. 1 in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a label area for a reusablecontainer in accordance with several embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a reusable container havingremovable divider walls mounted in an interior thereof in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the reusable container of FIG. 9in accordance with several embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of one of the divider walls mounted in theinterior of the reusable container of FIG. 9 in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the divider wall of FIG. 11 inaccordance with several embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the divider wall of FIG. 11 inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart in accordance with several embodiments.

Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity andhave not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensionsand/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures maybe exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improveunderstanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also,common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in acommercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order tofacilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of thepresent invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described ordepicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in theart will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence isnot actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have theordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressionsby persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above exceptwhere different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems,apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for reusablecontainers and item delivery using reusable containers. In someembodiments, the reusable containers described herein include removabledivider walls that can be used to selectively divide an interior of thecontainer into multiple smaller portions. By a further approach, thecontainer and divider walls can have cooperating components to mount thedivider wall to the container. If desired, the container can beconfigured so that the divider walls can be positioned at thirds and/orhalf of the container. In several embodiments, the reusable containersdescribed herein can also include bag handle holding features so thatbags placed therein are prevented from spilling contents duringtransport. In some embodiments, the reusable containers described hereincan also include bottom surface portions configured to engage pop-uprollers and/or conveyor belts.

Reusable containers 10 having some or all of these features are shown inFIG. 1-13 . By some approaches, the container 10 can be of a rigidplastic material, so as to be reusable and resilient to aid in thedelivery of items. The container 10 includes a bottom wall portion 12and a sidewall portion 14, which can be integral with one another andthat together define an interior 16 of the container 10. The bottom wall12 includes upper and lower surfaces 18, 20, end edges 22, and sideedges 24. The bottom wall 12 can be preferably configured so deflectless than 10 mm during use, and preferably less than 7 mm. The sidewall14 includes inner and outer surfaces 26, 28, end portions 30 that extendupwardly from the bottom wall end edges 22 and side portions 32 thatextend upwardly from the bottom wall side edges 24.

In some embodiments, the bottom wall upper surface 18 can besubstantially planar, including only variances, ridges, or the like of 4mm or less, and preferably about 2 mm or less. An example substantiallyplanar bottom wall upper surface is shown in the cross-section of FIG. 7. In the illustrated form, the bottom wall upper surface 18 has a 1.5 mmridge therein.

Features of the bottom wall lower surface 20 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. During handling, the container 10 can be conveyed and transported overvarious surfaces. For example, the container 10 may be conveyed bypop-up rollers during use. To engage the rollers, the lower surface 20can include one or more solid, substantially planar portions 34extending along a majority of a length thereof extending between the endedges 22 and/or a width thereof extending between the side edges 24. Inthe form shown in FIG. 6 , the lower surface 20 includes substantiallyplanar portions 34 that extend along the majority of both the length andwidth thereof. More specifically, as shown, the substantially planarportions 34 include portions disposed along both the side edges 24 andend edges 22 of the lower surface.

In another example, the container 10 may be conveyed on one or moreconveyors, such as conveyor belts, rollers, and transfers. In order togrip these conveyors, the lower surface 20 can also include patternedportions 36. The patterned portions 36 can be surface features orridges, or can be edges of upstanding walls extending within the bottomwall 12. Further, as shown, the patterned portions 36 can extend along amajority of the length of the lower surface 20. If desired, thepatterned portions 36 can be disposed between the substantially planarportions 34 along the length direction. In the illustrated form, thepatterned portions 36 include an array of triangles. Of course, otherdesigns and configurations, such as rectangles, circles, or combinationsof shapes, can also be utilized.

As discussed above, the container 10 described herein can be disposed ondifferent types of conveyors and can transfer from one conveyor toanother. The bottom wall 12 can be configured to ease the transferbetween conveyors. By one approach, corners 38 of the bottom wall 12 canbe rounded so as to avoid catching on the various parts of theconveyors. In one example, the corners 38 can have a radius of betweenabout 3 mm and about 10 mm, and more preferably about 6 mm.

Moreover, the bottom wall lower surface 20 can include upwardly taperingend portions 40 that extend along the end edges 22 thereof. The upwardlytapering end portions 40 can extend upwardly at an angle with respect tohorizontal of between about 5 degrees and about 30 degrees, preferablyabout 10 degrees and about 20 degrees, and more preferably about 12degrees. Further, the upwardly tapering portions 40 can extend along thelength of the bottom wall lower surface 20 between the end edges 22thereof between about 5 mm and about 50 mm, preferably between about 15mm and about 30 mm, and more preferably about 22 mm. Of course, ifdesired, the lower surface 20 could alternatively or also includeupwardly tapered side portions.

Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the bottom wall 12 can includehollow portions 42 disposed between the upper and lower surfaces 18, 20thereof. The hollow portions 42 can aid in cooling the container 10after formation so that the bottom wall 12 maintains a desiredconfiguration and appearance. The bottom wall 12 can further includereinforcing walls 44 extending between the upper and lower surfaces 18,20 thereof to strengthen the bottom wall 12 against deformation duringuse. The reinforcing walls 44 can be disposed in any desired pattern,such as the triangular array shown.

By some approaches and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the sidewall 14 cantaper outwardly as it extends upwardly from the bottom wall 12. Soconfigured, the container 10 can nest together in a stack of similarlyconfigured containers for storage purposes. In one form, the bottom wall12 and sidewall 14 can be configured so that the container 10 can nestat least about 50% of its height into another container, more preferablymore than 70% of its height, and even more preferably about 80% of itsheight.

In order to lower the weight of the container 10, and use less materialfor the container 10, the sidewall 14 can include a plurality ofopenings 46 extending therethrough. The openings 46 enable air flowthrough the container interior 16. If desired, the openings 46 can havea height that less than half, and preferably less than a third, of aheight of the sidewall 14. So configured, the sidewall 14 can maintainstructural connections around the relatively smaller openings. Thesidewall 14 can also include handle openings 48 disposed on the endportions 30 and/or side portions 32 thereof.

The openings 46 and handle openings 48 can also be configured tominimize spillage from within the container 10. More specifically,lowest ones of the openings 46 and/or handle openings 48 can be spacedfrom the bottom wall upper surface 18 by an amount to contain apredetermined amount of any liquids spilled within the container 10. Inone example, the openings 46 and/or handle openings 48 can be spacedfrom the bottom wall upper surface 18 by at least 10% of a height of thesidewall 14. In another example, the openings 46 and/or handle openings48 can be spaced from the upper surface 18 by between about 10 mm andabout 50 mm, preferably between about 20 mm and about 40 mm, and morepreferably about 30 mm.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 8 , the sidewall 14 can also include one ormore label areas 50 on the outer surface 28 thereof. Each of the labelareas 50 can be configured so a label adheres to different portionsthereof with different adhesive strengths, which enables easy removal ofthe label while also ensuring that the label stays affixed during use ofthe container 10. In one form, the label area 50 can include one or moresmooth portions 52 configured to allow a label adhesive to fully adherethereto and one or more heavily roughened or textured portions 56configured to prevent a label adhesive to adhere thereto or minimizeadherence thereto such that the portion of the label applied to theheavily textured portion 56 can be pulled away from the label area 50with little or no effort needed to overcome an adhesive force. In afurther form, the label area 50 can include one or more lightlyroughened or textured portions 54 configured to allow a label adhesiveto partially adhere thereto. In other words, the smooth portions 52 canhave a first level of adherence of an adhesive label thereto, thelightly textured portion 54 can have a third level of adherence of theadhesive label thereto, and the heavily textured portion 56 can have asecond level of adherence of the adhesive label thereto, where the firstlevel of adherence is relatively stronger than the second and thirdlevels of adherence and the third level of adherence is relativelystronger than the second level of adherence.

In the illustrated form, the heavily textured portion 56 of the labelarea 50 is disposed in a corner 58 thereof to provide a convenientgripping area for a user when removal of a label is desired. Further,the lightly textured portions 54 can be disposed in a pattern todistribute the relatively lower adhesion across a majority, or entirety,of a width and height of the label. For example, as shown, the lightlytextured portion 54 can intersect one or more of top, bottom, or sideedges 60, 62, 64 of the label area 50. In the illustrated form, thelightly textured portion 54 is disposed in an m shape. Further, theheavily textured portion 56 can be disposed in multiple corners 58and/or along one or more of the edges 60, 62, 64.

The sidewall 14 can further include one or more pairs of bag handleholders 66, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 . The handle holders 66 areconfigured to retain the handles of bags therein during transport of thecontainer 10 so that the bags remain in an open, upright orientation anddo not spill their contents. Further, because the bags can be held in anopen configuration, a user can easily determine how much free space abag has and can easily identify items in the bag.

By one approach, the handle holders 66 include a notch or depression 68in the sidewall 14 and one or more retaining arms 70 that project overan open top 72 of the notch 68. The retaining arms 70 define an opening74 therebetween so that the handles of the bag are retained within thenotch 68 until they are lifted upwardly through the opening 74. Thisminimizes the handles becoming inadvertently dislodged during transport.By one approach, the handle holders 66 are disposed in a top edge 76 ofthe sidewall 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 9-13 , the container 10 can further beconfigured to include one or more divider walls 78. The divider walls 78are configured to mount to the sidewall 14 to divide the containerinterior 16 into multiple smaller portions 79. By some approaches, thedivider walls 78 can include outwardly projecting portions 80 configuredto mount to slots 82 in the sidewall 14, as described below.

Details of the slots 82 are shown in FIGS. 1-3 . The slots 82 areprovided in pairs that align with one another across the containerinterior 16. The slots 82 are configured to guide the divider wall 78 toa locked position as the divider wall 78 is mounted to the sidewall 14.The locked position can restrict the divider wall 78 from lateralmovement within the container interior 16.

Each slot 82 includes edges 84 that define an opening 86 through thesidewall 14 with a top portion 88 and a bottom portion 90. The edges 84within the top portion 88 can be relatively wider than the outwardlyprojecting portions 80 of the divider wall 78 so that the divider wall78 can be easily oriented and mounted therein. The edges 84 can bedownwardly tapering so that the opening 86 is relatively larger at thetop thereof and relatively smaller at the bottom thereof, which guidesthe outwardly projecting portions 80 of the divider wall 78 as thedivider wall 78 is shifted downwardly. The edges 84 of the bottomportion 90 of the opening 86 extend generally parallel to one anotherand are spaced closely together so that the bottom portion 90 has arelatively narrow width as compared to the top portion 88.

If desired, the sidewall 14 can include a stop or shield portion 92disposed on the outer surface 28 thereof. The stop portion 92 can bedisposed outwardly of the opening 86 and cap the top portion 88 thereofto thereby provide a stop for the outwardly projecting portion 80 of thedivider wall 78. As shown in FIG. 10 , the stop portion 92 is configuredto enclose a top of the divider wall outwardly projecting portion 80when the divider wall 78 is mounted to the sidewall 14.

Details of an example divider wall 78 are shown in FIGS. 9-13 . Asshown, the divider wall 78 includes a main body portion 94 with sideedges 96 configured to generally extend along the sidewall 14 of thecontainer 10 and a bottom edge 98 configured to generally extend alongthe bottom wall 12 of the container 10 when the divider wall 78 ismounted within the container 10. As set forth above, the divider wall 78further includes outwardly projecting portions 80 that extend laterallyaway from the side edges 96 of the main body portion 94 along a topportion 100 thereof.

The outwardly projecting portions 80 include a neck portion 102 thatextends laterally away from the side edge 96 of the main body portion 94and a transverse panel portion 104 disposed outwardly of the neckportion 102. The panel portion 104 extends generally transverse to thelateral direction of the neck portion 102 to form a T shape therewith.So configured, the divider wall 78 can mount within the slot 82 bysliding the neck portion 102 thereof into the opening 86 so that thepanel portion 104 is at least partially disposed outwardly of thesidewall outer surface 28.

As discussed above, the sidewall 14 can be configured to taper outwardlyas it extends upwardly away from the bottom wall 12. So configured, thedivider wall 78 is mounting to a wall that is angled outwardly withrespect to vertical. As shown in FIG. 12 , by one approach the panelportion 104 can extend generally vertically. So configured, a topportion 106 of the panel portion 104 can be disposed within the opening86, while a bottom portion 108 thereof is disposed outwardly of thesidewall 14 to extend along the outer surface 28 thereof. With thisconfiguration, the neck portion 102 is utilized to extend through thenarrow width bottom portion 90 of the opening 86 so that the sidewall 14is trapped between the bottom portion 108 of the panel portion 104 andthe main body portion 94.

If desired, the panel portion 104 can have a configuration similar tothe opening 86 with a downwardly tapering top portion 106 and arelatively narrow width bottom portion 108 and the downwardly taperingtop portion 106 of the panel portion 104 can be sized to fit within thetop portion 88 of the opening 86. So configured, a user can slide thedivider wall 78 vertically into the container 10 aligned with the slots82 thereof and the top portion 106 of the panel portion 104 willeventually abut the downwardly tapering edges 84 of the opening 86.

By one approach, the container 10 can include pairs of slots 82 disposedat thirds of the length thereof between the sidewall end portions 30 sothat when the divider walls 78 are mounted thereto, the divider walls 78generally divide the container interior 16 into thirds. By a furtherapproach, the container 10 include a pair of slots 82 disposed at halfof the length thereof. By a preferred approach, the container caninclude both options so that a user can selectively divide the containerinterior 16 into thirds, half, or more, as desired.

In some forms, the handle holders 66 can be aligned above one or more ofthe slots 82. So configured, when a user hangs a bag therefrom and adivider wall 78 is mounted within the slots 82, the bag will hangagainst the divider wall 78, on a side of the user's choosing, which incombination prevents the bag from spilling and also restricts lateralswinging of the bag during transport.

The container 10, configured as described herein, is particularlycapable for use in transporting goods from a distribution center througha supply chain to a customer. More specifically, when items need to bedelivered to a customer, the items commonly must be transported betweenseveral different locations and over an array of conveyor mechanisms.Further, the items can be perishable or damageable, so careful handlingcan be important. After the contents for the container 10 are determined202, a user can mount or install 204 one or more of the divider walls 78into the container 10. Thereafter, the user can load 206 the items intothe container interior 16, such as by using the handle holders 66 and/ordivider walls 78, so that the items are securely held within thecontainer interior 16 and separated and/or held stationary as needed.Thereafter, the container 10 can be loaded onto one or more conveyorsand conveyed 208 thereby within a distribution center or the like. Then,a user can transport 210 the container 10 to a delivery vehicle andtransport 212 the container with the delivery vehicle to a customer. Atthe location of the customer, the user can then unload 214 the container10 to deliver the items to the customer.

In some embodiments, a reusable container for use in transporting goodsfrom a distribution center through a supply chain to a customer isdescribed herein that includes a bottom wall having upper and lowersurfaces, side edges, and end edges; a sidewall having side portionsextending upwardly from the bottom wall side edges and end portionsextending upwardly from the bottom wall end edges, the bottom wall andsidewall defining an interior; multiple pairs of slots in the sidewallside portions, each pair of slots having one slot disposed in each ofthe sidewall side portions that are aligned with one another across theinterior, each slot including an opening extending through therespective sidewall side portion; and one or more removable dividerwalls, each including a main portion sized to extend between thesidewall side portions and outwardly projecting portions configured toextend through the openings of one of the pair of slots to mount theremovable divider wall to the sidewall and selectively divide theinterior into multiple interior portions.

In several approaches, the openings of the pair of slots are configuredto guide the outwardly projecting portion downwardly as the divider wallis mounted to the sidewall and lock the divider wall against lateralmovement.

In further approaches, the openings of the pair of slots can bedownwardly tapering with a narrow width bottom portion; and theoutwardly projecting portions of the removable divider wall include neckportions and panel portions disposed on the neck portions. The neckportion can be configured to extend through the respective opening andthe panel portion can be configured to extend adjacent to an outersurface of the respective sidewall side portion such that the sidewallside portion is disposed between the panel portion and the main portionof the removable divider wall at least adjacent to the narrow widthbottom portion of the respective opening.

In further approaches, the multiple pairs of slots can include two pairsof slots disposed along the sidewall side portions to divide theinterior into thirds and a pair of slots disposed along the sidewallside portions to divide the interior in half.

In some approaches, the sidewall includes one or more pairs of baghandle holders in the sidewall, where each of the pair of bag handleholders is configured to receive a handle of a bag so that a bag mountedthereto is held in an open configuration within the interior.

In further approaches, the one or more bag handle holder portions aredisposed along an upper edge thereof. The bag handle holder portions caninclude a notch in the upper edge of the sidewall and arm portionsextending over portions of the notch to retain handles of bags withinthe notch.

In further approaches, the bag handle holders, in combination with theone or more divider walls, can be configured to hold bags within thecontainer in a substantially stationary, upright configuration toprevent spillage of loose items.

In several approaches, the bottom wall bottom surface can include solidplanar portions extending along a majority of a width thereof betweenthe end edges where the solid planar portions are configured to engagepop-up rollers for conveyance.

In further approaches, the bottom wall can include a patterned portionhaving a plurality of walls having lowers edges exposed along the bottomwall bottom surface where the patterned portion extends along a majorityof the width of the bottom wall between the end edges thereof and isconfigured to engage conveyors for conveyance.

In some approaches, the bottom wall side and end edges can have arounded configuration to avoid catching on conveyance mechanisms. Infurther approaches, the bottom wall bottom surface can include upwardlytapering portions extending along the end edges thereof that areconfigured to enable smooth conveyor transfer.

In several approaches, the sidewall can include a label area on one ormore of the side and end portions thereof. The label area can include asmooth portion configured to have a first level of adherence of anadhesive label thereto and a textured edge portion configured to have asecond level of adherence of the adhesive label thereto, where the firstlevel of adherence is relatively stronger than the second level ofadherence.

In further approaches, the textured edge portion can be a heavilytextured portion, and the label area can further include a lightlytextured portion configured to have a third level of adherence of theadhesive label thereto, where the third level of adherence has astrength between the first and second level of adherence.

In some approaches, the sidewall can include one or more openingsextending therethrough where the sidewall has no openings extendingtherethrough at least along 10% of a height thereof adjacent to thebottom wall to minimize leakage of liquids spilled within the container.

In several approaches, the bottom wall and sidewall are configured suchthat more than 70% of the container nests within another similarlyconfigured container.

In some approaches, the bottom wall and sidewall are of a rigid plasticmaterial and integral with one another so as to minimize deformationduring use.

In several embodiments, a container for use in transporting goods from adistribution center through a supply chain to a customer that includes abottom wall having upper and lower surfaces, side edges, and end edges;a sidewall having side portions extending upwardly and outwardly fromthe bottom wall side edges and end portions extending upwardly andoutwardly from the bottom wall end edges, the bottom wall and sidewalldefining an interior; multiple pairs of slots in the sidewall sideportions, each pair of slots having one slot disposed in each of thesidewall side portions that are aligned with one another across theinterior; one or more removable divider walls, each divider wallincluding a main portion sized to extend between the sidewall sideportions and panel portions disposed outwardly of the main portion, theremovable divider walls configured to mount to the sidewall by beingoriented above the pair of slots and shifted downwardly, each slotguiding the corresponding panel portion into a locked position so thatthe divider wall is restricted from lateral movement, the divider wallselectively dividing the interior into multiple interior portions; andone or more pairs of bag handle holders of the sidewall, each bag handleholder of the pair of bag handle holders configured to receive a handleof a bag so that a bag mounted to the pair of bag handle holders is heldin an open configuration within the interior.

In some embodiments, a method of use in transporting goods in a reusablecontainer from a distribution center through a supply chain to acustomer is described herein that includes determining contents for areusable container, the reusable container having an interior defined bya bottom wall and a sidewall; mounting one or more divider walls to thesidewall of the reusable container to selectively divide the interiorinto multiple portions; loading items disposed in one or more bags intothe reusable container by hanging handles of the bags on one or more bagholders of the sidewall; conveying the reusable container through adistribution center on a conveyor; transporting the reusable containerto a delivery vehicle; transporting the reusable container via at leastthe delivery vehicle to a customer; and unloading the one or more bagsfrom the reusable container at a location specified by the customer fordelivery.

In several approaches, mounting the one or more divider walls to thesidewall can include orienting the divider wall above a pair of slotsdisposed in the sidewall of the reusable container and aligned acrossthe interior thereof; and shifting the divider wall downwardly so thatouter panel portions thereof are guided by the pair of slots to a lockedposition with the sidewall.

In some approaches, loading the items disposed in the one or more bagsinto the reusable container can include disposing the handles of thebags in a pair of bag handle holders disposed in the sidewall such thatthe bag is held in an open configuration by the pair of bag handleholders.

In several approaches, conveying the reusable container through thedistribution center on the conveyor can include engaging pop-up rollerswith smooth bottom surface portions of the reusable container; andengaging conveyor belts with patterned bottom surface portions of thereusable container.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of othermodifications, alterations, and combinations can also be made withrespect to the above described embodiments without departing from thescope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, andcombinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventiveconcept.

What is claimed is:
 1. A reusable container for use in transportinggoods from a distribution center through a supply chain to a customer,the container comprising: a bottom wall having upper and lower surfaces,side edges, and end edges; a sidewall having side portions extendingupwardly from the bottom wall side edges and end portions extendingupwardly from the bottom wall end edges, the bottom wall and sidewalldefining an interior, wherein the sidewall has an inner surface facingthe interior and an outer surface; multiple pairs of slots in thesidewall side portions, each pair of slots having one slot disposed ineach of the sidewall side portions that are aligned with one anotheracross the interior, each slot including an opening extending throughthe outer surface of the respective sidewall side portion; one or moreremovable divider walls, each including a main portion sized to extendbetween the sidewall side portions and outwardly projecting portionsconfigured to extend into the openings of one of the pair of slotsthrough the outer surface of the sidewall to mount the removable dividerwall to the sidewall and selectively divide the interior into multipleinterior portions; and one or more stop portions disposed on the outersurface of the sidewall, each stop portion disposed outwardly of anopening of a slot and provides a stop for an outwardly projectionportion of a respective removable divider inserted into the slot.
 2. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein the openings of the pair of slots areconfigured to guide the outwardly projecting portion downwardly as thedivider wall is mounted to the sidewall and lock the divider wallagainst lateral movement.
 3. The container of claim 2, wherein theopenings of the pair of slots are downwardly tapering with a narrowwidth bottom portion; and the outwardly projecting portions of theremovable divider wall include neck portions and panel portions disposedon the neck portions, where the neck portion is configured to extendthrough the respective opening and the panel portion is configured toextend adjacent to an outer surface of the respective sidewall sideportion such that the sidewall side portion is disposed between thepanel portion and the main portion of the removable divider wall atleast adjacent to the narrow width bottom portion of the respectiveopening.
 4. The container of claim 1, wherein the one or more pairs ofbag handle holders are disposed along an upper edge of the sidewall, thebag handle holders including a notch in the upper edge of the sidewalland arm portions extending over portions of the notch to retain handlesof bags within the notch.
 5. The container of claim 1, wherein thesidewall further includes one or more bag handle holders which, incombination with the one or more divider walls, are configured to holdbags within the container in a substantially stationary, uprightconfiguration to prevent spillage of loose items.
 6. The container ofclaim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the bottom wall includes solidplanar portions extending along a majority of a width thereof betweenthe end edges, the solid planar portions configured to engage pop-uprollers for conveyance.
 7. The container of claim 6, wherein the bottomwall includes a patterned portion having a plurality of walls havinglowers edges exposed along the bottom wall bottom surface, the patternedportion extending along a majority of the width of the bottom wallbetween the end edges thereof and configured to engage conveyors forconveyance.
 8. The container of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall bottomsurface includes upwardly tapering portions extending along the endedges thereof, the upwardly tapering portions configured to enablesmooth conveyor transfer.
 9. The container of claim 1, wherein thesidewall includes a label area on one or more of the side and endportions thereof, the label area including a smooth portion configuredto have a first level of adherence of an adhesive label thereto and atextured edge portion configured to have a second level of adherence ofthe adhesive label thereto, the first level of adherence beingrelatively stronger than the second level of adherence.
 10. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein the sidewall includes one or more openingsextending therethrough, the sidewall having no openings extendingtherethrough at least along 10% of a height thereof adjacent to thebottom wall to minimize leakage of liquids spilled within the container.11. The container of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall and sidewall areof a rigid plastic material and integral with one another so as tominimize deformation during use.
 12. A container for use in transportinggoods from a distribution center through a supply chain to a customer,the container comprising: a bottom wall having upper and lower surfaces,side edges, and end edges; a sidewall having side portions extendingupwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall side edges and end portionsextending upwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall end edges, thebottom wall and sidewall defining an interior, the sidewall includingone or more pairs of bag handle holders in the sidewall, each of thepair of bag handle holders configured to receive a handle of a bag sothat a bag mounted thereto is held in an open configuration within theinterior, wherein the sidewall has an inner surface facing the interiorand an outer surface; multiple pairs of slots in the sidewall sideportions, each pair of slots having one slot disposed in each of thesidewall side portions that are aligned with one another across theinterior, each slot including an opening extending through the outersurface of the respective sidewall side portion, the multiple pairs ofslots including two pairs of slots disposed along the sidewall sideportions to divide the interior into thirds and a pair of slots disposedalong the sidewall side portions to divide the interior in half; and oneor more removable divider walls, each divider wall including a mainportion sized to extend between the sidewall side portions and panelportions disposed outwardly of the main portion, the removable dividerwalls configured to mount to the sidewall by being oriented above thepair of slots and shifted downwardly, each slot guiding thecorresponding panel portion into a locked position so that the dividerwall is restricted from lateral movement, the divider wall selectivelydividing the interior into multiple interior portions, wherein the panelportions extends through the outer surface of the respective sidewallwhen mounted.